UPL: Express seek momentum in Butema as SC Villa chase rebound

The curtain falls on the penultimate match day of the first round this Wednesday with two mouth-watering fixtures featuring traditional heavyweights Express and SC Villa.

In Bunyoro, Express make the trip to Royal Park Butema to take on Kitara in a 4pm kickoff, buoyed by last week’s convincing 3-1 victory over Buhimba United Saints.

The Red Eagles will be eager to turn that performance into a run, with head coach Kintu hoping his attacking unit can reproduce the same sharpness in front of goal.

However, they face a stern test against a Kitara side that showed plenty of character in their last outing, battling to an entertaining 3-3 draw with NEC.

SC Villa welcome a struggling Mbarara City

The encounter also carries a touch of intrigue, with several former Express players including Emmanuel Wasswa, Frank Tumwesigye and John Byamukama lining up against their old employers.

Later under the lights at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba (8pm), 17-time champions SC Villa welcome a struggling Mbarara City, desperate to respond after a narrow 2-1 defeat to BUL.

The Jogoos start as favourites, especially against opponents who were forced to play without substitutes in their goalless draw with Lugazi FC and are further weakened by the suspension of four key players, among them goalkeeper Fahad Emuran, midfielder Ibrahim Thembo and striker Henry Kitegenyi.

For Villa, the mission is clear, get back to winning ways and stay within touching distance of the leading pack. But they will need to stay alert, as the Lions have proven stubborn of late, losing just once in their last five matches and drawing the rest, a reminder that this may not be as straightforward as it looks.